What Should I Wear?

Abstract

This article examines the effects of feminism and exposure to bisexual lesbian and women's communities on bisexual women's behavior, thoughts and feelings regarding beauty and appearance norms. Seventy-seven bisexual women participated in a qualitative survey addressing these issues. Sixty-two women responded to questions about the ways in which feminism has affected their beauty ideas and/or practices. Results showed that 73% (n = 45) of these respondents felt that feminism affected their beauty ideas and/or practices, with all but one woman citing positive influences. Seventy-six women responded to questions about the ways in which contact with women's communities affected their beauty ideas and/or practices. Results showed that 59% (n = 45) of these respondents felt that contact with women's communities has had an impact on their beauty ideas and/or practices. The majority of respondents (91%; n = 69) also felt that there are clear appearance norms or standards in women's communities that differ from those of society at large. Themes from open-ended responses, specific examples and implications of findings are discussed.